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nsevey's review
2.0
Review from first reading in April 2009:
I haven't made many forays into the world of nonfiction, but I felt like this was a success. I don't think it dramatically changed my world view, but I did learn some interesting things. It was interesting to see how the authors were able to tie a discussion of mess and messiness into so many seemingly disparate topics: lawn care, gambling, mental disorders, jaywalking, and many more. I think one of the things I really enjoyed was that reading this book gave me more to think about and to talk about. I felt like I actually had something to discuss beside what I did at work that day (which is usually the same thing everyday).
Review from second reading in September 2011
I guess this is the first time I've tried to re-read nonfiction. Apparently I shouldn't do that. I didn't find it nearly as interesting this time (although I had forgotten a lot of the details and anecdotes). I suppose it might have been more beneficial to read this again if my dear husband hadn't already kindly reminded me that no, it would not be a good idea for me to try to impose some organizational scheme on my son's toy box.
I haven't made many forays into the world of nonfiction, but I felt like this was a success. I don't think it dramatically changed my world view, but I did learn some interesting things. It was interesting to see how the authors were able to tie a discussion of mess and messiness into so many seemingly disparate topics: lawn care, gambling, mental disorders, jaywalking, and many more. I think one of the things I really enjoyed was that reading this book gave me more to think about and to talk about. I felt like I actually had something to discuss beside what I did at work that day (which is usually the same thing everyday).
Review from second reading in September 2011
I guess this is the first time I've tried to re-read nonfiction. Apparently I shouldn't do that. I didn't find it nearly as interesting this time (although I had forgotten a lot of the details and anecdotes). I suppose it might have been more beneficial to read this again if my dear husband hadn't already kindly reminded me that no, it would not be a good idea for me to try to impose some organizational scheme on my son's toy box.
jennybento's review
4.0
This was very good, lots of little stories like Freakonomics. It referred me to a lot of other books I would like to read and further convinced me that I am probably ADD.
xaviershay's review
1.0
Couldn't finish it. I wanted there to be something here, but seemed like a self-justification for sloppy work and setting up neat-freak strawmen than an investigation into the nuances of mess+creativity.
As one strawman, trying to quote this as obviously overly OCD behaviour "(Sample advice from Real Simple: Assign each member of your family a towel color.)" seems to ignore the seemingly obvious (to me, who isn't even particularly domestic) that this kind of "nudge" has the potential to drastically reduce washing load in a family. Instead we just get throwaway snark.
Another example: "Inconsistency often pays off for competitive runners, many of whom achieve maximum aerobic efficiency by adopting a highly varied conditioning regimen, continually altering the speed, length, difficulty, and frequency of their running routines."
While this is strictly true, competitive runners have some of the most demanding routines, patterns, and discipline of anyone. Incorporating disorder within order seems like an interesting topic, but instead all we get is the previous quoted sentence implying that we can just run however we feel like and become a gold medalist.
As one strawman, trying to quote this as obviously overly OCD behaviour "(Sample advice from Real Simple: Assign each member of your family a towel color.)" seems to ignore the seemingly obvious (to me, who isn't even particularly domestic) that this kind of "nudge" has the potential to drastically reduce washing load in a family. Instead we just get throwaway snark.
Another example: "Inconsistency often pays off for competitive runners, many of whom achieve maximum aerobic efficiency by adopting a highly varied conditioning regimen, continually altering the speed, length, difficulty, and frequency of their running routines."
While this is strictly true, competitive runners have some of the most demanding routines, patterns, and discipline of anyone. Incorporating disorder within order seems like an interesting topic, but instead all we get is the previous quoted sentence implying that we can just run however we feel like and become a gold medalist.
wyvernfriend's review
4.0
I really liked this one, more for some of the sparks it set off in my head than some of the actual content. This explores the phenomenon of professional Organisers and how they try to impose a rigid structure of order on people's lives. What isn't often explored in the quick TV show is the fact that a lot of these people find it almost impossible to maintain this order. Without some form of fludity in the choice many people find order a difficult prospect, and many find that it really doesn't quite work, both on a professional and personal level.
Personally I'm in a bit too much of a mess but rigid order doesn't really work all that well for me either (yes I'm a librarian, yes some parts of my life are well-organised)
While complete chaos isn't ideal, people in general are messy and systems have to reflect this. This is a look at humanising systems and instead of everyone being the same, that we all chose a system that works (and complete chaos doesn't tend to be a workable system) for us and that we all should allow for the fact that other people's mileage may vary.
It does display a certain amount of bias towards a more chaotic feel but that's slightly refreshing (for me at least) in a sea of books about rigid order.
Personally I'm in a bit too much of a mess but rigid order doesn't really work all that well for me either (yes I'm a librarian, yes some parts of my life are well-organised)
While complete chaos isn't ideal, people in general are messy and systems have to reflect this. This is a look at humanising systems and instead of everyone being the same, that we all chose a system that works (and complete chaos doesn't tend to be a workable system) for us and that we all should allow for the fact that other people's mileage may vary.
It does display a certain amount of bias towards a more chaotic feel but that's slightly refreshing (for me at least) in a sea of books about rigid order.
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